NHS workers based in Sheffield say that tomatoes could potentially improve the quality of sperm.
A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition by researchers based in the city found “very encouraging” results suggesting that Lycopene – found in Watermelon and pink grapefruit as well as tomatoes – can lead to more healthy-shaped and motile sperm in men, improving fertility.
During a 12-week period, 60 men were given 14 milligrams of Lycopene and had their sperm tested at the start, midway through, and at the end of the trial to see whether there were any differences from males not taking the supplement.
Dr Liz Williams, a specialist in human nutrition, led the research, and says there are plans to develop the research further. “The next step is to repeat the exercise in men with fertility problems and see if lycopene can increase sperm quality for those men and whether it helps couples conceive and avoid invasive fertility treatment.”
Lycopene is an antioxidant, a compound found in many foods and produced by the human body. The body also produces reactive oxygen species, often called free radicals, that circulate round the body and multiply during metabolism. Antioxidants are needed to stop these free radicals damaging cells, which could lead to serious illness.
Lucie Nield, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at Sheffield Hallam University, says that antioxidants are vital in our day-to-day living. “Antioxidants are needed in our diets to absorb free radicals and stop them breaking down the DNA structures within our cells, because this could lead to things such as cancer.”
She also says that people should focus on maintaining a balanced diet. “We don’t just eat antioxidants by themselves. We get mixtures of things such as carbohydrates, good fibre sources and other elements. Without a good, balanced diet, people can be prone to constipation, bowel issues, cancers, heart disease, strokes, cardio vascular diseases, Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
On the possibility that Lycopene could directly improve male fertility, Lucie said: “The research is still relatively new. From what I’ve seen there doesn’t seem to be enough evidence to confidently ascertain whether high doses of Lycopene can definitely aid the body’s defence against heart disease, cancer and fertility. Further research is required.”
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